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Kerala Religion, Religions in Kerala |
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Kerala hailed, as God's own country, by many, deserves this accolade because of many features geographical and sociological. A long coastline in the west and mountains on the east forming clear natural boundaries. Religion has played a crucial role in Kerala's culture. There are mainly three religions in Kerala - Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. As far as the religion of Kerala is concerned, the origins could be traced to Hinduism. Then came in the Islamic faith and Christianity with its various sects. The other Indian religions like Buddhism; Jainism had some influence among the Hindus and was found scattered with their migration to Kerala. |
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According to the 1991 census 57.38% of the population of Kerala are Hindus, 23.33 Muslims and 19.32 Christians. The earliest settlers of Kerala were the Proto-Australoids, the Mediterranean, Dravidians, and the Aryans in 321-297 BC.
HINDUISM, the
world's oldest religion dates back to about 5000 BC. The sacred texts 
include
the Vedas, Epics and Puranas, apart from other philosophical treatises.
Hinduism is a way of life and is based on the principle of Sanathana
Dharma. The Hindus worship the Supreme Being under three forms, Brahma-
the creator, Vishnu- the preservator and Shiva - destroyer.
Earlier inhabitants (Dravidians) of Kerala followed primitive animism and
spirit worship to propitiate the Gods.
With the arrival
of Aryans settler from the north India, the human forms of worship and
caste division were evolved. But history is silent about worship of
Goddess (Baghavathy). Only in Kerala and West Bengal Goddess form the main
deity. Mythology doesn't say much about Baghavathy. For many Keralites,
Baghavathy is the family deity. Most of the festivals in Kerala are in
depiction of Baghavathy.
Even today many temples in Kerala has mother (Baghavathy) and animism
(snake worship) has their main deity.
Islam
is believed entered into India through Kerala. There are historical
records of commercial trading between Kerala and Middle East during 7th
Century AD. The Jews and Arabs of the Pre-Islamic period were among the
pioneers of spice trade with Kerala. The religion of Islam was also by
these traders from Middle East, who later settled in Coastal belt of
Kerala. To this day Muslims are very proficient in trade and commerce.
Muslims in Kerala, as anywhere else in the world, are close-knit unit
clear-cut religious and political agenda.
In the
absence of clear historical records, it is believed that Apostle of Jesus,
St. Thomas himself, introduced Christianity in India in the year 52 A.D.
The early Christians (St. Thomas Christians) were called Syrian Christians
because they followed the Syriac liturgy, a dialect of Aramaic, the
language of Jesus. With the arrival of Portuguese (1498) and the
establishment of their political influence, the Latin rite eme
rged
as an important factor and a large community of Latin Christians sprang up
and grew, particularly in the coastal areas. The work of St. Francis
Xavier and the synod of Diamper (1599) played an important part in the
Latinisation of the church. In the beginning of 19th century, when the
British spread its influence in Kerala, the Church Mission Society (CMS)
of London actively associated them in the workings of Syrian Church. After
some years of close co-operation, the missionaries broke their connection
with Syrian Bishops and church. It was on their initiative the Anglican
Church came into existence.
Some priests of the Syrian Church under the influence of missionaries
advocated reforms, including the replacement of Syriac by Malayalam, which
was disfavored by Bishops and Clergy of Syrian Church. Following this the
reformers formed a new church known as Marthoma Syrian church as distinct
from the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
Now there are five different offshoots of Christianity in Kerala.
The Nestorian Church confined mainly to Thrissur and Ernakulam.
The Roman
Catholic Church, embracing the whole of Kerala and following three
different languages for their rites (Syriac, Latin and Malayalam).
The Jacobite Syrian Church, also known as Orthodox Syrian Church.
The Anglican Church, part of Church of South India.
Marthoma Syrian Church.
Apart from
these, there are several other Christian denominations deriving
inspiration from some foreign Church or other.
The contribution of Christian religion in the field of education and care
of the sick is innumerable. First Malayalam dictionary and grammar by
Arnos Pathiri, first printing press, study and classification of Herbs,
Hortus Malabaricus, etc. highlight the eminent position of Christianity in
Kerala. The Universal education propagated in Kerala along with the
churches provided the basic education for the emancipation of the
population from various social and cultural evils. The school, colleges,
hospitals and other numerous socio-cultural institutions run by the
Christians are role models.
THE OTHER
Indian religions like Buddhism and Jainism had some impact among the
Malayalee Hindus, but with the Aryan migration to the south. There was
dissemination of all these religion.
Jainism
Though there is evidence of practice of Jainism in Kerala before the
arrival of Aryans. History is silent about it. The Famous Jainmedu temple
in Palakkad is the manifestation of Jainism in Kerala. Today few families
of Jain community are found around Palakkad in Kerala.
Judaism
The traders from Middle East bought Judaism into Kerala during 7th Century
AD. Later these traders settled in Kochi. Jew Town in Kochi, is the
testimony of the Judaism in Kerala. Today it is one of few places in World
where Je
ws
are living in peace. There is a Synagogue in Jew Town. Today, Jew
town is one of popular tourist location in Kerala, where one can find many
interesting antiquities of Kerala.
Nowhere in India, or may be in the entire world, you can witness such tolerance and co-operation and religious amity as seen in Kerala. Only in Kerala one can find person's of different community come together and celebrate each other's festival with pomp. Onam, the traditional festival of Hindus, Christmas and Ramzan - all these festivals are celebrated by all the community in Kerala.
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